Tray-table



Sept. 6, 1949.

w. E. JOGWICK ErAL TRAY- TABLE Filed Aug. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllllllIll lll Elma/Mm M4 5. L/OGW/CK E. H Mal/100mm will Sqm, 6, 11%% W. E. JOGWICK ET AL TRAY-TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1946 Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAY-TABLE Walter E. J ogwick, Parkersburg, and Eli H. McLaughlin, Vienna, W. Va.

This invention relates to a tray-table, and is an improvement over the device shown in our copending application Serial No. 647,941, filed February 15, 1946, now Patent No. 2,459,529, dated Jan. 18, 1949,

In our copending application referred to, we have disclosed a device adapted to be used either as a tray or table, the device being provided with a plurality of legs normally arranged in inoperative positions beneath the table and movable downwardly to operative positions to support the table. The legs are latched in either operative or inoperative positions and are releasable from either position and movable to the other position by the operation of a lever mechanism. Such lever mechanism comprises a pair of separate levers separately pivoted and selectively operable in the two positions of the legs for releasing the latching means and moving the legs to the other position.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel tray-table having legs movable between and latchable in operative and inoperative positions and to provide novel simplified means for releasing the latching means and moving the legs from either position to the other position.

A further object is to improve the structure shown in our copending application referred to by providing a single operating lever, pivoted at a K single point and having portions operable for releasing the latching means and for positively moving the legs from either position to the other position.

A further object is to provide a tray-table of the character referred to wherein the single operating lever is provided with an operating handle portion and two cam portions one of which, upon operation of the lever, releases the latching means and the other of which limits turning movement of the lever relative to the legs whereby force applied to the lever will swing the legs to move them from either position to the other position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings we have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tray-table.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan View of one end of the table, portions of the legs being shown in inoperative positions,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3 3 of Figure 2, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1, parts being shown in elevation and parts being broken away, portions of the legs being shown in operative positions,

Figure 5 is a similar view with the legs in inoperative positions,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 4 and Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the operating collar for one of the leg shafts.

The body of the table is indicated as a whole by the numeral iii and may be convenientl and attractively formed of a suitable molded plastic. At its side edges, the body of the table extends upwardly to form opposite parallel flanges ll, while the ends of the table similarly extend upwardly to form flanges 12. However, where the side edges of the table are relatively flat as shown in Figure 6, the ends of the table, just beneath the tops of the flanges [2, curve outwardly and downwardly as at l 3 to form hollow operating pockets I i. Each of the bulged portions [3 is slotted as at E5, for a purpose to be described.

A shaft 18 extends transversely of the table adjacent each end thereof, and each end of each shalt projects through the depending side apron i9 formed at each side of the table. Each shaft is therefore partly supported by the body of the table. Centrally of the length of each shaft, a plate 26"is secured as at' 21 to a block of any suitable material 23 fixed against the table top :0. Each plate 21] is slotted as at 25 to form a central spring tongue 26 having its end turned downwardly as at 21 to form a latch finger for a purpose to be described.

The outer portions or arms 28 of each plate 26 have end portions 29 or 30, respectively, surrounding the adjacent shaft It to form main bearings therefor. The bearing 29 has an extended end portion 3| which may be spot welded to the adjacent arm 28. The bearing 3i! has a similarly extended end portion 32 preferably connected to the adjacent arm 28 by a screw 33. The purpose of this screw is to permit the bearing St to be tightened down sufliciently to exert slight frictional engagement with the shaft Iii to prevent the latter from turning too freely. The purposes of this arrangement will become more apparent later.

An operating collar indicated as a whole by the numeral 36 is arranged between the bearings 29 and 38 at each end of the table. This collar has end hub portions 31, secured to the shaft 18 in any suitable manner, for example by set screws 38 (Figure 7). The collar further comprises spaced annular flanges 40, the space between these flanges being provided for reception of a lever to be referred to later. Each of the flanges 59 is provided with two pair of aligned slots ii and 42, one pair of these slots being engageable with the associated spring finger 21 in each position of the shaft [8 to be referred to later. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, each spring finger 21 is of a width to bridge across and engage both slots of either pair or ll.

Each shaft [8 carries a pair of leg-supporting collars 45, preferably spot welded on the shaft to fix them in position with respect thereto. Each collar carries a projection 46 receivable in the adjacent end of a preferably tubular leg All, the free end of each leg preferably being provided with a rubber or similar tip 48 to engage the floor without marring it. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6, one pair of legs 41 is arranged slightly closer together than the other pair to permit them to swing freely to the inoperative positions shown in Figures 2 and 5.

An operating lever indicated as a whole by the numeral 511 is provided for the legs at each end of the table. Each lever 50 has a body extending partially around the central portion 52 of the associated collar 36 between the flanges thereof. The body 50 is pivotally mounted eccentric to the associated shaft [8 by means of pin 53 extending through the flanges es.

The body of each lever 50 is provided with a pair of) integral fingers 55 and 56, arranged on opposite sides of the collar portion 52 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Adjacent the finger 55, the associated lever 50 is provided with an Operating handle 58 projecting through the adjacent slot I5.

The operation of the device is as follows: The legs 41 normally occupy the inoperative positions shown in Figures 2 and 5, and under such conditions, the spring fingers 21 engage the notches 42 of the two collars 3B. The fingers 2'! accordingly act as latches to support the legs in their inoperative positions. the lever handles 58 project substantially horizontally as shown in Figure 5. It will be apparent that each of the levers 50 is freely mounted on its pivot pin 53 and accordingly the fingers 5,5

of the levers are free to be moved inwardly out of any pressure contact with the ends of the latch fingers 21.

When it is desired to use the device as a table, the operator will grasp the bulged apron portion l3 and'lift the device to a position over the floor, whereupon he will exert an upward and inward force on-the handles 58. The levers 59 will pivot on pins 53 and the finger 55 of each lever will ongage the adjacent latch finger 21 to swing it out of the associated notch 42. This operation releases the legs 41 for downward swinging movement, and at the point where the latch fingers are thus released, the lever fingers 55 will be in close proximity to the central collar portion 52. Slight additional turning movement of the levers 50 will then bring the fingers 55 into contact with the collar portions 52. This engagement prevents further turning'movement of the levers 5Q relative to the collars 36, and hence relative to the shafts ['8 and legs 41. Further force applied to the handles 58 will then cause the levers and the entire leg assemblies to swing as units on the axes of the shafts l8.

When the legs reach the operative positions shown in Figure 4, preferably diverging down- Under such conditions,

wardly to a slight extent, the latch fingers 21 will automatically snap into the notches 4|, and thus the legs M will be held in operative position. When it is desired to fold the legs back to the normal inoperative positions, the reverse operation is performed. Supporting the table with his hands in the same manner as before, the operator will press outwardly with his thumbs against the upper ends of the lever handles 58. The fingers 55 of the levers will spring the latch fingers 21 out of the notches 4|, whereupon the lever fingers 56 will engage the spool portions 52. Further outward and downward movement of the lever handles 58 will then effect swinging movement of the legs 41 upwardly until the spring fingers 21 again engage the notches 42.

It will be apparent that the present device is characterized by extreme simplicity, a minimum number of simple and easily formed parts being employed in the manufacture of the device. Particular attention is invited to the fact that a unitary lever device is employed in conjunction with means for holding the legs either in the normal inoperative positions or in the operative positions, and such single lever will effect an unlatching of the legs in either position and will transmit movement to the legs to positively swing them to the other positions. It also will benoted that the outwardly curved apron portion it at each end of the table provides a housing for the operating mechanism while at the time covering most of the length of each lever handle. Thus the projection of such lever handles is minimized, and accidental operation of the levers is substantially eliminated. In fact, accidental operation of the levers is undesirable only when the device is being used as a table, and under such conditions, the lever handles 58 are arranged in close proximity to and substantially protected by the flanges [2 at the ends of the table.

Attention also is invited to the fact that the single plate 20 at each end of the apparatus provides the main bearing support for the. associated shaft and also provides the adjacent. latch finger and the resilient means tending to hold such finger in the slots of one pair 4| or 42.

The most important feature of the device, of course, lies in the provision of the unitary lever referred to above. Such lever is of extremely simple construction'and provides motion transmitting means in either'direction of movement of the legs and also functions as means for releasing the associated latch finger in both the normal and operative positions of the legs.

As previously stated, the screws 33 are preferably employed to provide a slight gripping action of the bearings 30 on the shafts 48. This frictional engagement is for the purpose of preventing the legs from swinging too freely by gravity when released from the normal inoperative positions shown in Figures 2 and 5.

We claim:

1. A tray-table comprisin a tray body, parallel shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, a pair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, a collar carried by each shaft and having circumferentiallyspaced notches therein, a latch finger biased toward said notches of each collar and enga eable in the respective notches when the associated legs 'are in operative and inoperative positions, and a single lever bodily carried by each collar and being mounted for limited movement relative thereto and engageable during such limited movement with the associated latch finger to release it from the notch with which it is engaged, each lever being operative thereafter for swinging the associated legs from one of said positions to the other.

2. A tray-table comprising a tray body, parallel shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, apair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, a collar carried by each shaft and having circumferentiallyspaced notches therein, a latch finger biased toward said notches of each collar and engageable in the respective notches when the associated legs are in operative and inoperative positions, a single lever pivotally connected to each collar eccentric thereof and having fingers straddling such collar and engageable therewith to limit turning movement of said lever relative to said collar whereby said lever transmits turning movement to said collar to swing said legs from one of said positions to the other, said pair of fingers being respectively engageable with the associated latch finger in the respective operative and inoperative positions of the associated legs to release such latch finger upon initial operation of said lever.

3. A tray-table comprising a tray body, parallel I shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, a pair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said 1 body and operative positions projectin downwardly to support said body, a collar fixed to each shaft and having spaced annular flanges connected by a hub portion, a spring finger carried by said tray body and urged into engagement with said flanges of each collar, said flanges of each collar having a pair of aligned notches engageable with the associated sprin finger in the operative positions of the associated legs and having a second pair of aligned notches engageable with such spring finger in the inoperative positions of the associated legs, and a single lever pivoted to said flanges of each collar in the space therebetween, each lever being mounted for limited turning movement relative to the associated collar and being engageable during such limited movement with the corresponding sprin finger for releasing it from the notches with which it is engaged; each lever being thereafter operative for turning the associated shaft to swing the legs thereof from one of said positions to the other.

4. A tray-table comprising a tray body, parallel shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, a pair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, a collar fixed to each shaft and having spaced annular flanges connected by a hub portion, a sprin finger carried by said tray body and urged into engagement with said flanges of each collar, said flanges of each collar having a pair of aligned notches engageable with the associated spring finger in the operative positions of the associated legs and having a second pair of aligned notches engageable with such spring finger in the inoperative positions of the associated legs, and a single lever pivoted to said flanges of each collar in the space therebetween, each lever having a pair of operating fingers straddling the hub of the associated collar and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter thereof whereby each lever partakes of limited swinging movement relative to the associated shaft, said operating fingers of each lever being respectively engageable with the associated spring finger in said operative and inoperative positions of the corresponding legs for releasing such spring finger from the notches with which it is engaged whereby the associated legs are free to be swung by said lever when the latter is turned beyond its limit of movement.

5. A tray-table comprising a tray body, a leg structure connected to said body for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said structure having legs movable during such movement be tween normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, latch means carried by said body and having a portion movable to a locking position engaging a portion of said leg structure for holding said legs in said operative positions, said latch means being biased to said locking position, and a single lever carried by and mounted for turning movement relative to said leg structure for moving said legs from either of said positions to the other of said positions, said lever having a portion engageable with said latch means to release it, said leg structure having a surface concentric with said horizontal axis and over which said portion of said latch means slides during movement of said legs between said operative and inoperative positions.

6. A tray-table comprising a tray body, a leg structure connected to said body for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said structure having legs movable during such movement be tween normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, a single latch carried by said body and having a portion engageable with said leg structure for latching said legs in either of said positions, and a single lever carried by and mounted for turning movement relative to said leg structure for effecting movement of said legs from either of said positions to the other of said positions, said lever having portions engaging said leg structure to limit turning movement of said lever relative to said leg structure, said lever having portions engageable with said latch means and operative during such limited movement for releasing said latch means in the respective positions of said legs.

7. A tray-table comprising a tray body, a leg structure connected to said body for swinging movement and having legs movable during such movement between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, latch means for holding said legs in either of said positions, a single unitary lever carried by and mounted for turning movement relative to said leg structure moving said legs from either of said positions to the other of said positions, said lever having portions engaging said leg structure to limit turning movement of said lever relative to said legs and being provided with a pair of fingers 'engageable with said latch meansin the respective operative and inoperative positions of said legs for releasing said latch means during said limited turning movement of said lever.

8. A tray-table comprising a tray body, parallel shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, a pair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support-said body, latch means carried by said body and engaging each shaft, each shaft having a radial notch engageable with the associated latch meansto hold the associated legs operative positions, and a lever bodily carried by each shaft for turning it to swing the associated legs from either of said positions to the other of said positions, each lever being mounted for limited turning movement relative to the associated shaft, each lever being engageable with the corresponding latch means during such limited movement when the associated legs are in operative positions for releasing such latch means, each shaft havinga surface concentric with said axis and over which the associated latch means slides during movement of said legs between said operative and inoperative positions.

9. A tray-table comprising a tray body, parallel shafts arranged adjacent the ends of said body and rotatably supported relative thereto, a pair of legs carried by each shaft and adapted to swing on the axis thereof between normal inoperative positions horizontally beneath and parallel to said body and operative positions projecting downwardly to support said body, a collar carried by each shaft and provided with a notch, a. latch finger biased for movement into engagement with each notch and engageable therein when the adjacent legs are in operative positions, and a single lever pivotally connected to each collar, said lever being mounted for turning movement of such lever relative to its shaft to transmit turning movement to theassociated shaft and being engageable with the corresponding latch means duringsuch limited movement when the associated legs are in operative positions for releasing the corresponding latch means, each collar having a cylindrical surface over which the associated latch finger slides during movement of the corresponding legs between said operative and inoperative positions.

WALTER E. J OGWICK. ELI H. McLAUGl-ILIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,221,788 Bilton Apr. 3, 1917 1,583,999 Scheibe et aI May 11, 1926 1,944,757 Ritter Jan. 23, I934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,928 Great Britain 1910 380,016 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1932 

